Hotel Crush: a vehement, furious, downright pathological appreciation for hotel design and culture
Any excuse to sip bubbly will do, so it was Grammy weekend on which we leaned for a pleasant drenching of champagne and dessert. The setting was Primary Wave at SLS, a hotel that nearly verges on a lifestyle for a brigade of patrons who rely on staples like cotton candy foie gras and liquid nitrogen-chilled cocktails. It was a quick tour through and we were sated…until next year’s crop of novelty stirs our cravings.
Party Lobby and Patio Dessert Table:
The Kitchen:
Paella and Dessert:
There’s something delicious and irresistible about a new champagne. The best ones are tart and dense with bubbles that pop on your tongue, with just the slightest linger of sweetness. Which is why when we tried the Moët & Chandon Imperial 2002 (in adorable mini bottles) we were hooked. The setting was awards season Hollywood and the party was a modern day Gatsby indulgence – towering vases of white flowers, dramatic chandeliers, bites of crabcakes and foie gras, shrimp and lamb. But it was the champagne bubbles buzzing on our tongue that stood out as sensational, and for that we are ever wiser.
There is something smoldering about the downtown of Los Angeles. It’s vacant at first sight, with uplit buildings and quiet streets. It looks like it was built for a population three times its size. But it’s raucous with history, and spread beautifully thin. Loft parties, basement speakeasies, and rooftops frosted with city lights. And something new that we’d like to share.
In the heart of Pershing Square, a beat shy of the Biltmore, is a gorgeous building from the early 20th that is home to Perch, a sprawling French bistro on the top two levels. Summer was as far from our memory as a dip in the Parker Palm Springs pool, but we toasted a warm fall evening on the patio with a bottle (or two) of bubbly. We ordered a post-concert supper of Beef Bourgignon Deconstruit and an apple tart (dessert is a mandatory component of HotelCrush).
But mostly we fell for the view:
The Beef Bourgignon Deconstruit and Apple Tart:
In addition to the iconic hotel bar, there are certain lounges that scream low-key glamour and off-the-clock indulgence. Usually positioned in well-trafficked retail neighborhoods, these spots are just as much journey as destination.
Cipriani Dolci – Grand Central Station: We’re deeply smitten with Grand Central Station and the gorgeous Main Concourse. Our favorite stops at GC include the Transit Museum Store and the subterranean mezzanine food hall, but our top scenario to wind away an hour is over a martini (Ketel, twist) at this lovely bar overlooking an afternoon’s worth of transportation logistics.
Neiman Marcus: If you’re avoiding New York City and sunning on the West Coast, we recommend an afternoon cocktail at Neiman Marcus’s lovely Rotunda Bar in San Francisco. White, bright, modern Gilded Age style greets you, along with comfortable plush seating and an afternoon tea service featuring your mandatory glass of bubbly. The bonus? A couple glasses of champagne makes the wait for a fitting room a bit smoother.
Bergdorf Goodman: Back to New York. (You knew you couldn’t stay away that long..) Sometimes you find yourself stranded in Midtown during a flash downpour with no chance of a cab. Moments like these were made for Bar Americain at Bergdorf’s, situated off the lower right-hand corner of Central Park and vigorously far from public transit. You’ll find a warm restaurant bar finished in the dark wood paneling that subtly declares, “We’re downright timeless.”
The Rotunda Bar, Cipriani Dolci, and Bar Americain:
It’s no secret that our favorite drink is rosé champagne, so we were thrilled to discover the effervescent Graham Beck Brut Rosé at a 4th of July dinner party. From South Africa, this sparkling wine shares all the qualities of our perrenial favorite. Our hostess explains: “I went in to buy a bottle of Laurent Perrier but the guy told me that I absolutely HAD to try a bottle of this. So I did, LOVED it, and went back to get four cases.”
The taste: Tart enough to balance anything sweet, but a hint of sweetness to complement anything savory. Basically, perfection.
The look: Pale pink, think Veuve rosé or Essie Ballet Slippers.
The price: Will shock you, in a good way.